When I Die
Pepper Coyote Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

For when I die and when Iʼm ashes
And no more songs I can repeat
Whoeverʼs singinʼ at my funeral
Had better learn to move their feet

Cuz when I die right around 40
And when my fuse has reached its end
You best believe weʼll all be drinkinʼ
Now donʼt ask why but maybe "when"

Some people croak it and then everyone chokes
on bitter tears "oh lord whyʼd he have to go?"
But when I stroll I think weʼll all probably know that I was
Due any time I mean you canʼt live that hard for long

So when I die, and when Iʼm buried
Come watch me sink into the ground
Forget the dirt, just drain a bottle
And if they ask, just say I've drowned

For when I die and when itʼs over
And all my friends are left behind
I wouldnʼt doubt that theyʼll be jealous
Theyʼll have to do more work than I

Some people croak it and then everyone chokes
on bitter tears "oh lord whyʼd he have to go?"
But when I stroll I think weʼll all probably know that I was
Due any time I mean you canʼt live that hard for long

So when I die and when Iʼm sober
Thereʼll be more stories left to write
Take up my pen, and get to scriblinʼ
Puncture your silence kill your fright

For when I die (for when I die)
For when I die (for when I die)
For when I die (for when I die)
For when I die (for when I die)





Iʼm only goinʼ over Jordan
Iʼm only goin over home

Overall Meaning

The song "When I Die" by Pepper Coyote is a playful take on his own mortality. The opening lines show that the writer is aware that when he is gone, his music will not be able to be played by him himself, but instead by someone else. However, the author seems more interested in the idea that whoever sings at his funeral should also be someone who can dance. This idea indicates that the author has a light-hearted approach to life and death, and wants his funeral to be a celebration of his life rather than a somber event.


The middle section of the song emphasizes that the author expects to die around the age of forty, and that he has been living his life hard. This idea implies that the author has been living life to the fullest, and that there is no regret about the way he has lived his life. This impression is bolstered by the chorus, which emphasizes that others will not be surprised by his death, but will instead know he was due any time now.


The final section is somewhat enigmatic, suggesting that there will be more stories to tell even when he is gone. The writer encourages others to continue writing, even when he is no longer around. The final line of the song "I'm only going over Jordan, I'm only going over home" further emphasizes that the writer accepts his death as an inevitable part of life's journey, and that he is at peace with this idea.


Line by Line Meaning

For when I die and when Iʼm ashes
When I have passed away and my body has been cremated


And no more songs I can repeat
And I can no longer sing and perform my songs


Whoeverʼs singinʼ at my funeral
The person singing at my funeral


Had better learn to move their feet
Should be prepared to dance and celebrate my life


Cuz when I die right around 40
Because I expect to die around the age of 40


And when my fuse has reached its end
And my time on this earth has come to a close


You best believe weʼll all be drinkinʼ
Everyone should expect to raise a glass in my memory


Now donʼt ask why but maybe "when"
I don't know why this is how I feel, but it's just a thought


Some people croak it and then everyone chokes
When some people die, it causes an overwhelming sense of sadness


on bitter tears "oh lord whyʼd he have to go?"
With lots of tears and sorrow, wondering why someone had to leave us


But when I stroll I think weʼll all probably know that I was
But when I look back at my life, I think everyone will realize that


Due any time I mean you canʼt live that hard for long
I was living a hard and fast life, and it was only a matter of time before it caught up to me


So when I die, and when Iʼm buried
So when I pass away and my body is laid to rest


Come watch me sink into the ground
Watch as my body is lowered into the earth


Forget the dirt, just drain a bottle
Don't worry about the dirt, just have a drink and celebrate my life


And if they ask, just say I've drowned
If anyone asks about my death, say that I drowned (even if it's not true)


For when I die and when itʼs over
When I pass away and my life is over


And all my friends are left behind
And my friends are left to mourn my passing


I wouldnʼt doubt that theyʼll be jealous
I wouldn't be surprised if they envy me for being at peace and no longer suffering


Theyʼll have to do more work than I
They will have to continue living and dealing with the struggles of life


So when I die and when Iʼm sober
So when I die and no longer under the influence of drugs or alcohol


Thereʼll be more stories left to write
There will be more stories to tell and memories to share about my life


Take up my pen, and get to scriblinʼ
Pick up a pen and start writing down memories and stories of our time together


Puncture your silence kill your fright
Open up and share your feelings and emotions, and don't be afraid to express yourself


For when I die (for when I die)
Because someday I will pass away


Iʼm only goinʼ over Jordan
I am only going to the other side, or the afterlife


Iʼm only goin over home
I am only returning to my true home and a sense of peace




Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions